The chances are rising a tropical cyclone will develop to the north of Australia this weekend.

The experts are watching the growth of a tropical low which was located just north of the NT which is expected to moved towards the WA over the next few days.

There is a chance another big weather system could develop a bit closer to home in the NT later next week as well.

This week's low is likely to gradually deepen as it moves over the Timor Sea during the weekend, increasing the chances it will become Australia's next tropical cyclone.

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On the Bureau of Meteorology ratings, they give it a 20 to 50 percent chance of building to a cyclone by the weekend.

After a poor wet season, it is unlikely the cyclone will impact the Top End's weather but the monsoon trough it was born from is predicted to dump between 15-50mm across coastal areas from Friday.

The bureau's zero rainfall prediction for Katherine remains.

Showers and storms are expected to increase for coastal areas of the north west Top End over the next few days, with rain developing over the Tiwi Islands and Cobourg Peninsula from tomorrow, the bureau said.

"The pick up in weather is due to a tropical low to our north brushing past areas of the NT on Friday before it moves into the Timor Sea north of the Kimberley coast this weekend.

"Damaging wind gusts are expected with thunderstorms as the low passes and a Severe Weather Warning for this event may be issued on Thursday for impacts on Friday if the system continues to track in the expected direction.

"A 3-day rainfall total in the 50-150mm range is possible in coastal locations, including Darwin with heavier 24 hour rainfall of 100-200mm possible in the Tiwi Islands.

"We are monitoring the low for development to Tropical Cyclone strength - there is a moderate chance it will intensify on Friday, and a high chance of becoming Tropical Cyclone Wallace during Saturday, north of the Kimberley coast.

"The system is not expected to impact land areas of the NT at cyclone strength as it will likely have moved well out into the Timor Sea before intensifying into a cyclone, but it may have impacts on some WA coastal locations from as early as Saturday."

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